Porta Soprana
The Porta Soprana was formerly a city gate to the Italian port city of Genoa . It is one of the most important surviving medieval buildings in the city and is located on the highest point of the Sant'Andrea plain . In the immediate vicinity is the historic Ravecca district , the former oppidum in today's center of the Ligurian capital.
Also close to the city gate is the presumed birthplace of Christopher Columbus .
history
In the 14th century, the previously peripheral city gate was swallowed up by urban planning. On the archway between the two watchtowers, a one-story house was built (a second story was added in the 18th century), where the son of Chares Henri Sanson (the executioner of Louis XVI ) lived.
The two towers were converted into dungeons in the 18th century, as was the nearby monastery of Sant'Andrea (the prison della Torre ). The guards' homes were also in them.
Towards the end of the century, the Porta Soprana was reduced to a cluster of different buildings. In 1890 restoration work began under the direction of the architect and superintendent for the fine arts Alfredo d'Andrade . In this context, the north tower with its archway was also restored. During the work, the capitals with the Roman eagle were also restored.
The southern tower, however, remained integrated into a residential building until 1930. With the demolition of the Ponticello district , its structure was restored under the direction of Orlando Grosso .
Web links
Coordinates: 44 ° 24 '20.1 " N , 8 ° 56' 4.8" E